In August, something strange happened on the Yellow River.

A tourist accidentally came to the Yellow River in the north of Kaifeng City and suddenly shouted: "The Yellow River is clear."

In fact, it was not clear at all. However, in recent years, the Song Dynasty invested a lot of money. Apart from hundreds of miles upstream of the Yellow River, more than 90% of the remaining mainstream and tributaries were covered with trees and grasslands, and the river's cement and sand content gradually decreased. It just so happened that the autumn water was flat and it had not rained for a long time. There was not much mud and sand rushing into the river, and the mud and sand content in the river further decreased. The river water was not clear and was still very turbid, but from a distance, it looked a little bit naive, rather than being as turbid as before.

This is already amazing for the people who have been by the Yellow River for a long time.

And under the light of the Song army easily defeating the Khitan army, countless people in the capital rushed out of the city to watch. Finally, they alarmed the monarch and ministers. Zhao Xu brought the ministers to the riverside. A Yellow River nurtured Chinese civilization, but human beings were too overdrawn. The Yellow River benefited the people and also caused the people to suffer.

Wang Gui leaned over the river in an exaggerated manner and said, "Your Majesty, this is auspiciousness, this is the real auspiciousness."

But soon after, an autumn rain fell and the riverside turned yellow again. But this incident quickly spread all over the world, and became more and more magical.

On the other side of Yinshan, there was a huge project under construction. After the war between the two countries, the court quickly allocated 13 million yuan to build checkpoints at various valleys in Yinshan. This is temporary. If you get the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun in the future, you must build it to the end of Dongyin Mountain and connect it to Yanshan. Then start in the south of Muna Mountain, and go to the Yellow River, cross the Yellow River to the boundary of the Song Dynasty's prefectures, and build a new Great Wall that lasts more than 300 miles long.

This Great Wall was built, which means that you Khitans will not be able to make Xia Lu's idea in the future.

If you fight, you can go through the vast desert from Beizhubu and attack various tribes in the desert oasis on the west side of Helan Mountain. But in that case, less troops will not be successful, and more troops will not be worth it. Moreover, a few people in Xixia also lost their bad intentions.

It can also be regarded as another meaning. Our Song Dynasty only wants to get Xixia. Not to mention the reason, Xixia caused our Song Dynasty to suffer, but it was not hostile to you Khitan. We even used the Great Wall checkpoint to actively isolate your Khitan Yunneizhou, Dongshengzhou, and Tiande Army.

This project is a bit big and will probably not be completed until next autumn, but it will be handed over to Zhang Yu at that time.

Zheng Lang then wrote his resignation.

In fact, those resignation letters were deliberately sung for some people.

It is not because I want to defeat the Khitan. Once the war officially begins with the Khitan, that is, the beginning of the recapture of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, I have to do a lot of preparations, and the treasury also requires a lot of savings. It is not yet time yet. At least five years later, it depends on the situation in the Khitan and other opportunities.

The reason for fighting is that, as Zhao Xu said, the Song Dynasty lived in the shadow of the Khitan for many years, and now the country is strong, so we should fight to clean up the shadow and shame. The main reason is to target some people in Lingxia Road, which are not easy to deal with. Before planning to rebel, there is evidence. If the handling is light, it will not work. If the handling is heavy, the people will have some resentment.

So the resignation was used to cause turmoil among the people of Lingxia Road, and with other illusions, seduced the Khitan to send troops. If the Khitans send troops, these people would rebel. At the beginning, except for Xingqing Prefecture that could not let it be disturbed, Zheng Lang deliberately made their rebellion expand.

So whoever wants to rebel is revealed, and the quality of these people is mixed, and many people burned, killed, robbed. This allowed Zheng Lang to find excuses and reasons for severe punishment. After defeating the Khitan, a few people fled to the Khitan very cleverly, and some people hid everywhere. Zheng Lang listed the crimes they committed one by one, published them at the gates of various prefectures and counties, and sent people to arrest them.

After this clearance, the unstable factors in Lingxia Road have dropped significantly.

Another incident occurred at this time. Li Bingchang was in poor health, but soon died of illness after this fright. The Song Dynasty also supported Li Bingchang's son Li Ganshun as the governor of Lingxia, the king of Hexi County Prince Xia, but he was named Zhao Ganshun. Because of this rebellion, various royal families fled or killed, and there were not many people left, so they brought these royal children to the capital with Zhao Ganshun.

The title of King Xia is still there, but at this point, the real name of Xia is also destroyed, and Western Xia has become a history.

Looking at the working people on both sides of the Yellow River, Zheng Lang said: "My husband, although the Xixia royal family brought them to the capital together, they still have to treat the people well. Without ten years of influence, the people of Lingxia Road may not be very loyal to the court."

"Don't worry."

"Also pay more attention to the movements of the Khitan, and you will be counted on you in the future."

Zheng Lang wanted to leave the northwest and invited Zhang Yu, one to command the battle, and the other to manage the northwest on behalf of Zheng Lang. After this battle, the Khitans most of the Khitans dare not have any ideas about the northwest for the time being. After a few years, it was not because of the Khitans that had ideas, but the Song Dynasty. Of course, it should be noted that if Yelu Hongji worked hard or Zhao Xu died, they could not attack the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, even if there was more money in the treasury, it was also to prevent the Khitans from being beaten to death even if they came.

However, Zheng Lang resigned and submitted it to the capital but there was no news.

It was not until the end of October that there was a late imperial edict in the capital that Zheng Lang had sent to Xijing. It was impossible to really let Zheng Lang stay in the bitter and cold land in the northwest for a lifetime, and Zheng Lang was 69 years old. Could it be that Zheng Lang had a spring silkworm that had not ended until his death, and the candles turned into ashes and tears dried up? Therefore, Zheng Lang was sent back to Luoyang to retire, but Zheng Lang was not allowed to retire.

Zheng Lang refused directly without obeying the order.

Since you are about to retire, you have to figure it out clearly. Why bother to be a false name and pretend to be hypocritical?

The eunuch who sent the order had to get the order back.

At this moment, a tragedy began to spread in the Song Dynasty, revealing a terrible truth, that is, Li Gui's true life experience. What people know is that Zhao Niannu was forced by his mother-in-law to run away from home and fell into Ezhou, allowing Zhang Kang's subordinates to find him.

But this rumor is not like this, but it means that Zhao Niannu was not in Ezhou. She ran to Chenzhou and asked Zheng Lang for help. Because she lost money on the road, she became a beggar for a while. As soon as she found Chenzhou, the two had an accident at the same time and kidnapped to the cave. It was cold in winter and the two of them were in a mess. Then something should have happened together, which led to Li Gui.

After the news came out, many people laughed at it.

Even more people stood up for the wrongdoing. Zhao Niannu was in the capital, but it was difficult to ask, but Cui Xian was also in the capital, so a noble lady made a fuss, but she didn't expect Cui Xian to admit the matter. It was true, not a rumor!

This exploded the camp at once.

Zheng Lang has made great contributions, but he deserves the credit and the mistakes.

Many verbal officials wrote letters to impeach, and some people said it a little bit ugly, that is, although people have desires, they are princesses. If they are really uncomfortable, they would rather be able to castrate themselves by wielding their swords than to have anything to do with the princess. The speakers are all very light, and they really have to do it with themselves to see if they can castrate themselves by wielding their swords.

Zheng Lang began to fall all the way from the altar.

Some ministers impeached him. Since he made such a big mistake, how can he still continue to be an official in the court? At this time, Gao Taotao held a banquet in the palace and said to the ministers: "Mr. Zheng did not want to hide this matter from beginning to end. He rescued him from the front, and later reported the incident to Emperor Renzong himself, and the Ai family also knew about it. Sima Guang and Wang Anshi also knew about it. Therefore, Duke Zheng repeatedly refused official titles, but whether it was Emperor Renzong, Ai family, or Your Majesty, they forced Duke Zheng to conceal the matter. For his sake, if there were Duke Zheng, how could there be Hegong? If there were Duke Zheng, how could there be Xining reforms and the country was prosperous and strong, how could it be recaptured Hehuang Lingxia? How could there be such a prosperous era in the Song Dynasty? Don't put a gentleman in the heart of a villain anymore."

It is this sentence that prevents all the speakers from speaking anymore.

Gao Taotao said again: "You all impeached Duke Zheng, the Ai family understands it. But think about everything that Duke Zheng did for the Song Dynasty in his life. What is this mistake? And not many people know the truth about this matter. The truth will not be spread by His Majesty Ai family, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang. The person who spreads the truth is Mr. Zheng himself... He wants to retire, but His Majesty has always refused. This is Mr. Zheng who forced His Majesty to allow him to retire."

"My family, Mr. Zheng has been busy for the Song Dynasty in his life and lived a hard life. The truth is spread. The Ai family and His Majesty have to allow him to retire... Do you still want him to carry a heavy burden to spend his old age?"

...

In the tenth year of Yuanfeng, in 1087 of the Western calendar, Zheng Lang was 70 years old and William I died. However, because of his appearance, Britain turned into defense and offensive. Later, the war mainly occurred on other people's territory, laying the foundation for the emergence of the Kingdom of Britain.

But the whole of Europe is still in the dark age, only nearly three hundred years before the European Age of Discovery, and more than five hundred years before the European Industrial Civilization Age.

The Song Dynasty had just fought a medium-sized battle with the Khitan and won great glory. At the same time, the island owners of the country were still desperately seducing the people to migrate to the South China Sea. There were not many people migrating, but this ancient and closed country finally took the first step with difficulty...

...

During the Lantern Festival, the capital is filled with fire and silver flowers.

The national finances have improved. If you want to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, you have to save a lot of money. However, the court no longer has to tighten your belts and spend a day like before. Zhao Xu took out some money and rewarded them with great rewards, and exempted two taxes from some disaster areas. He also allocated three million yuan from the warehouse to help the poor people in the capital.

Gao Taotao made a conclusion for Zheng Lang with just one sentence.

Zheng Lang finally retired and retired, but the Song Dynasty was still developing rapidly.

Thinking of Zheng Lang, many people still sighed, but they could not stop their happiness.

As night came, singing and dancing on the street, Zhao Xu brought his ministers to watch Lantern Mountain at Xuande Gate. In fact, Zheng Lang's secrets came out, and many ministers took a breath. One person's moral character reached this point, and others felt very uncomfortable in addition to respecting it, because they could not do it at all. No matter what they did in recent years, they lived in Zheng Lang's huge shadow. In order to retire, Zheng Lang took the initiative to step down from the altar, and many people felt inexplicable relief, including Wang Gui who had just passed away, Cai Que and Sun Gu...

However, Zhao Xu has always been unhappy. Since he issued an edict to allow Zheng Lang to retire, he has felt extremely melancholy.

What Zheng Lang thought was actually for the entire country, but he would not say it, but Zhao Xu thought that Zheng Langzhong was the Zhao family.

Staring at the cheerful crowd outside, Sun Gu twisted his beard and said, "It's a prosperous era."

Zhao Xu didn't say anything. At this moment, an eunuch hurried to Zhao Xu and whispered: "Your Majesty, Duke Zheng returns very quickly. After arriving in Luoyang, he rushed to Gong County, probably not wanting to alarm local officials in various places."

Zhao Xu smiled bitterly and murmured: "Duke Zheng, do you really want to leave it all out?"

It was indeed clean enough. Zhao Xu didn't know how to repay Zheng Lang before, so he rewarded Zheng Lang as the prince of Hexi, but few people opposed it. However, Zheng Lang refused decisively. Zhao Xu issued an order to allow Zheng Lang to retire, but he also brought a series of official titles. Zheng Lang also wrote a memorial saying that the old minister had made a mistake in the past, and he got His Majesty Renzong and His Majesty Yingzong, the two empress dowagers and His Majesty, and continued to use the old ministers. Everything the old ministers did was not enough to repay the respect for the old ministers. Since they retired, how could they have the face to carry official titles?

He resigned from all official positions and titles, then handed over to Zhang Yu, and returned to Zhongyuan as a commoner.

After hearing this, the big guys around him were speechless.

Zhao Xu suddenly asked again: "You guess when will he be able to arrive in Gongling?"

If you detour Gong County, you must go to worship Renzong's tomb. Zhao Niannu took Li Gui and his family to Gongling.

"Mr. Zheng is old, and the northwest is cold. His body is gradually getting worse. When he came, he heard that he was getting some cold again and he had to come back by carriage. But if it was fast, he would be able to arrive in Gongling this evening." The eunuch sighed.

What a good minister, he will become old if he says he is old.

Zhao Xu was paced up and down the city tower and suddenly said, "Prepare the horse."

Fan Chunren pulled him and asked, "Your Majesty, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to Gongling."

"No," the ministers fell down a large group.

"Who dares to stop me? Do you really want Mr. Zheng to come back so darkly!"

After saying that, Zhao Xu quickly got off the city tower.

The ministers were all stunned and could not stop the emperor, but they could not let the emperor go like this. So they became a mess. Some ministers Xuan guards rode horses to protect them, while some ministers would ride horses to look for horses everywhere, and wanted to accompany Zhao Xu.

...

Before dawn, Zheng Lang got up, Cui Xian turned over and asked, "Official, what are you going to do?"

"Let's get up."

"So early?" Choi Xian asked strangely, looking at the hourglass beside the bed.

"I can finally rest. I can't sleep for a while. It's better to get up and quietly worship His Majesty Renzong. We will return to Zhengjiazhuang to avoid disturbing officials."

"It's Zheng Zhen."

"Oh, it's the price of industrialization. My hometown is probably not as quiet as before." Zheng Lang sighed happily and sadly.

“What industrialization?”

"It's the workshop..." Zheng Lang couldn't explain clearly, so the surname Suo was wearing clothes.

On the other side, Zhao Niannu also woke up and walked out of the next room. Then Li Gui and his wife and his children also walked out.

Looking at Zhao Niannu, Zheng Lang said guiltily: "Your Highness, it's only after so many years that I have given you mother and son the true identity."

In fact, Zheng Lang sent someone to spread the truth quickly, not for retirement, but for these two words, identity! Whether the ministers are happy, hate, or impeachment, he is not even concerned about it, but he can no longer let Zhao Niannu and Li Gui feel wronged.

The sky was still dark, and the family walked out of the inn and headed towards Yongzhao Mausoleum.

...

Zhao Xu was riding a horse in front, and many old ministers were panting on the horse's back. Some ministers were drafting in their hearts, preparing to use words to impeach the emperor's presumptuous actions.

The sky finally dazzled.
To be continued...